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Lankan Defence Minister in Israel for military purchase
Jerusalem, July 15: Sri Lankan defence minister Tilak Marapana and naval chief are on a visit to Israel to bolster an estimated 20-million-dollar arms purchase for the country`s navy.
Jerusalem, July 15: Sri Lankan defence minister
Tilak Marapana and naval chief are on a visit to Israel to
bolster an estimated 20-million-dollar arms purchase for the
country's navy.
Marapana and naval commander vice-admiral Daya
Sandagiriare are visiting the country to buy new weapons
control systems for the Dabur naval patrol boats Lanka bought
several years ago from Israel and the deal is said to be worth
at least 20 million dollars, media reported today.
On their high-profile visit, originally classified as
top secret, that began last week, the defence minister and
naval chief are accompanied by an entourage of Sri Lankan
military and civilian officials.
The Lankan defence minister is also likely to meet his
counterpart in Israel and security officials, daily 'Ha'aretz'
reported.
The visit has come at a time when tensions have been
rising between the Sri Lankan navy and the LTTE following the
sinking of the second tiger merchant vessel in disputed
waters.
The tiger rebels have been accused of trying to smuggle in weapons despite a ceasefire that is in place since February 23 last year.
Bureau Report
The tiger rebels have been accused of trying to smuggle in weapons despite a ceasefire that is in place since February 23 last year.
Bureau Report